Help me cure Angelman Syndrome!

I am writing this blog today because of my first born son,Chance. He is the light of my life. He also has Angelman Syndrome. I've mentioned it before on this blog and this time you can help me. Angelman Syndrome is caused by a random deletion on Chance's 15th chromosome. It has caused him to be non-verbal, he cannot walk, he has seizures that are sometimes very severe. He also suffers from severe sensory dysfunction and somedays it makes it very hard for him to handle all the sensory input from the world which makes it hard to live a full life. Through all his struggles he remains happy and full of love.

The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics works hard every day to cure this syndrome. It has already been cured in a mouse model. Any money this foundation takes in goes straight out to research. Last year they won $250,000 in a charity contest and used every cent to fund a clinical trial that is currently in progress. This year they are in a contest through Chase bank. They need help to win, and it only takes a few clicks.

STEP ONE: "like" Chase Community Giving here:http://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving
STEP TWO: Vote for FASThttps://fb.chasegiving.com/charity/view/ein/26-3160079/ref/index
We can do this together <3

If anyone would like to share this picture or links please go right ahead, This means so much to me! Thank you! 

Back to school!

So my oldest is in bed all ready for the first day of school tomorrow. As a mom to a special needs kid, its a bittersweet day every year. I'm sure all parents feel this way no matter the abilities of their kids. But I am anxious.

 Anxious the teacher will understand his non-verbal communication, that everyone will treat him with the dignity and respect he deserves. That his neuro-typical peers see him as a peer and not just some kid who can't talk in a wheelchair. That the staff treat him as if he were their own. I have so many fears relating to him at school, especially considering all the stories you see in the news about teachers and school staff abusing non-verbal children. And my son has no way of telling me if something is wrong. It scares me to my core, to be honest.

But it is also amazing, it gives him the opportunity to be with his friends, to learn how to be a friend. He will get to experience new things, meet new people, learn new concepts. He is such a problem solver when its something that interests him, this I think will help him learn. It's hard to say what he actually absorbs from school since he cannot verbally express what he knows. But in my heart I feel he is learning along with his neuro-typical peers, just maybe not in the same way as them. This is a hard concept sometimes for the school to grasp that he is able to learn the same things as his general education peers. They have no way to test him and prove it because he cannot always control his fine and gross motor movements to show them.

But despite that I will continue to push for him to be fully included as much as he can handle due to his sensory overload. He loves school so much, his teacher, the routine, all the other kids. Last year his year ended so well and he has the same teacher and aides so I'm sure this year will just be a great continuation.

Time for me to sleep as its time for me to get back in to routine and hope for the best. <3

Making a change around here (blogwise)

So I have been really slacking on posting lately, this summer has gotten crazy! Our homeschooling summer has been up and down, one good part is the addition to the kid's cousin joining us a few days a week. Having that extra kid around has really pushed me to step up my game on planning and implementing things with the kids.

Dry Erase table with Dry Erase crayons

Homemade Cloud dough (8 parts flours 1 part Baby Oil) 

I've started using more communication methods with Chance although he still doesn't have much interest I'm at least making it available at every opportunity to model using it for him. We are now going to start trialing newer devices that may be more adaptable for him and grow with him. He starts school in a couple weeks and I'm looking forward to him to go back to be with his friends and teachers. He is not a fan of summers especially Texas summers which result in us staying at home almost the entire summer due to the extreme heat.

This is our PODD book I use in addition to our Conversa 

I've also stepped up on my painting. It is a passion of mine and I'm actually getting outside interests in it! Not just my lovely husband complimenting me! I've sold my first commissioned painting and have listed several new ones on Etsy and hope to get more interest soon! http://www.etsy.com/shop/shaunamoreno

I'm going to continue to blog as often as possible but not as many giveaway posts. I do have a couple reviews in the works and hope to have those out in the next week! I'm still new to the blogging stuff so I'm learning as I go and still figuring it all out.

First week of trying summer school

Now that my 1st grader is on summer vacation he is making it very obvious he misses school. I know he loves his friends and teachers but the routine is also so important to him. So since I have been attempting (unsuccessfully) all year to get organized with homeschooling Daniella, I thought this would be a good opportunity to get going again.

So I got some more supplies, planned it all out for our first week. We did fourth of july theme activities and had some fun doing crafts and worksheets.

Chance was more interested in playing bubbles and watching movies but did participate a bit with his ipad apps that went along with our theme.

This next week I'm going to try and do a bit more than last week, I'm still trying to ease in to this routine but hopefully we will have some sort of routine by the time Chance goes back to school! My favorite site I found for printables http://www.overthebigmoon.com/

Walker Edison Bunk Bed Giveaway Event!!!!

EEEK My 2nd Giveaway Post!! 

 I know as a parent of 3, one with special needs, nice beds are hard to come by. Here is the PERFECT giveaway for growing families!! 

I am so excited to announce   BunkBedsAtoZ - (http://www.bunkbedsatoz.com/) is giving away a Walker Edison Bunk bed worth ($549). Use the rafflecopter form below to enter and make sure to mention Happy Chaos Blog referred you to enter! 

Big thanks to our Host - Children Teaching Mama
 (http://www.childrenteachingmama.com). 


The giveaway will run from June 20th to July 10th at 12:58pm and is open to United States residents 18+ and older. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

My life is a Jason Mraz concert

This morning I've spent it listening to Jason Mraz. Love him! His music is so happy even when its not always about the greatest things in life. He has a way of lifting my spirit. My happy chaos life is every week some kind of roller coaster. Today is no exception. C had a seizure this morning then of course he was super crabby all morning (understandably so). After a nice bath he seems to be better. D has been off and on sick but she seems better I think its mostly the time change and weather changing. I'm still trying our homeschool preschool a little bit everyday. C is on spring break so its a little harder to fit it all in. Plus I am so excited my mother in law is coming over in 2 weeks to spend 3 months with us. She live in the UK currently so we havent seen her in years. It will be so nice to have the kids nana living with us. Plus she will be able to babysit which will help me and J get back to one on one time <3. So as you see, the day is full of fun and not so fun stuff. But overall I smile. Life is always good in some way.

 jasonmraz.com

Best Song & Video!!

Finally the end of my day! Oh wait my wonderful Angel Chance is wide awake whining.......... Chance is 6 yrs old and has Angelman Syndrome. (more info check out www.angelman.org or www.cureangelman.org) Since he is completely non verbal and whining I have to play detective quite often to figure out what's wrong. This is not fun, one of the worst parts of having a non-verbal child. I wish I could just read his mind. Please tell me what hurts, what's uncomfortable, whats annoying, anything. :( Ok pity parties over turns out he just doesnt want to sleep! Like most kids that age! It's so weird how one minute I feel like the average mom and the next I feel profoundly different, I suppose because my oldest child is profoundly different and at the same time very typical. He loves everything most 6 yr old boys love... monster trucks, super hero movies, sporting events, and annoying his younger sister! But of course he is different than most because he cant walk on his own YET, has no verbal words (still can get a point across), movement disorder with severe sensory dysfunction and the no good horrible seizures. His body does not work well for him, but his mind is beautiful... He finds joy in EVERYTHING. Sure he has his moments when he is upset or feels ill... even in those times if he is crying and whining, he can still crack a smile and give a giggle if something catches his attention. I love that about him. Angelman Syndrome has given us alot of challenges and definitely played a huge part in giving us the happy chaotic life I'm writing here about. Although Angelman Syndrome sucks, our community is fabulous. Most of us dont live near each other but because of the internet we are here for each other through it all. My AS family has become family. The love and support we get and give to each other is something I never would have guessed I'd have when I gave birth to my beautiful boy 6.5 yrs ago. But I am so glad I have it.

Wow, I cant believe how much I've typed so far! I got a lot to say I guess! I'll stop here but if you want to help my son please visit www.helpsavetheangels.com and vote in the vivant gives back contest through facebook. Vote for FAST and help them win $250K that will go to research. Our scientists have already cured AS in mice and your vote could help them discover how to treat AS in humans. Thanks so much :)

My First Post!! Welcome to my happy Chaos!!

So this is my first post. I'm in no way a writer so if my sentances run together, and sometimes I dont make sense, well that's the way I talk so deal : P! But if you can look past grammatical errors, you will read about my crazy life as a stay at home mom, happy wife, special needs community member, neurotic, buddhist, spiritual, creative person. I love sharing my life with others sometimes way more than I should be (so blogging should be perfect!). Now my  beautiful little 2 yr old is getting up from her nap so I will be posting more later.............